Report card: Jasper County schools at-risk

The state’s latest report card shows Jasper County School District’s schools took a step back in overall performance.

The district’s growth rating fell to “at-risk” from last year’s “excellent” rating. For the third consecutive year its absolute rating is “at-risk.”

The growth rating is the district’s lowest since it was at-risk in 2009. Its absolute rating has been at-risk since 2009.

At-risk is designated as schools who fail to meet the standards for progress toward the 2020 S.C. Performance Vision.

“The district is extremely disappointed that growth dropped at the district level for the 2011-12 school year,” said Shellie Murdaugh, JCSD spokesperson. “There was a lot of hard work that went into teaching and learning last year, at all levels. We believe there was significant learning improvement last year, but much of that improvement did not translate into raising test scores enough to cross the next ratings threshold.”

Of the state’s 84 districts, Jasper County was among the 10-lowest performing.

Ridgeland Elementary’s absolute and growth ratings were at-risk; Hardeeville Elementary’s absolute rating was at-risk and its growth rating was below average; Hardeeville Middle-High’s (Middle) absolute rating was at-risk and its growth rating was below average, as was Ridgeland Middle School’s. Hardeeville Middle-High (High) had a below average absolute rating, but an excellent growth rating. Ridgeland High’s absolute and growth ratings were both at-risk.

“The district’s “at-risk” growth rating is an indicator that we must look deeper into our instructional programs and our strategies for improving teaching and learning,” Murdaugh said.

In High School Assessment Program (HSAP) scores, tests in English and math, 56.1 percent of students passed both subtests, compared to 67.4 percent of similar districts. The percentage is 2 percent greater than 2011. The overall HSAP passing rate was 81.4 percent.

Just 36.4 percent of students passed End of Course tests, but that was 4.6 percent increase over 2011.

“The small differences will continue to add up,” Murdaugh said. “We believe we will see continued improvement in a lot of the lesser profile measures — and that those lesser profile measures mean more in guiding our progress than do the higher profile factors (like the ratings).”

The district’s on-time graduation rate was 65.2 percent, compared to 72.9 percent in 2011. The student-to-teacher ratio was 21.2 to 1. It was 19.3 to 1 in 2011. There were 60.6 percent of teachers with advanced degrees, down from last year’s 62.2 percent. The average at similar districts is 59.7 percent.

The district received an “F” federal rating.

“The challenges include stabilizing our teachers at every grade level and making certain that all teachers at every grade level receive rigorous instruction,” Murdaugh said. “The ways in which we will ensure this is done is by hiring the best teachers that understand how to teach struggling learners. To offer further support for our children, we are working on improving our technology because we realize that technology is one of our vital resources students and teachers depend on for learning. We are currently upgrading our technology department.

“The room for growth would be in the fourth and fifth grade levels in all subjects and for elementary, middle and high school levels more rigorous learning in 6th through 12th grade classrooms.

“Performance of our children has been low in various areas for many years. Based on the number of years it has been low, it will take more time to bring it back up to a higher level. Reading and writing are critical areas, which reflect on the overall performance of our students, key areas we as a district have been concentrating on toward improvement.”

Overall, the state saw gains, according to the state’s department of education, as 72 school districts earned an “average” rating, four more than 2011. “At-risk” schools fell to 61 schools, the lowest since 2009.